Chapter 18
Location: Terra Nova, Stargate Command
Date: February 17, 2025
Time: 0500
"Unscheduled offworld activation."
General Landry was in the command room almost immediately upon that particular statement. It had become muscle memory by now. He never knew what might be on the other side of that wormhole to who knows where. So he was right on top of the command center.
"What do we got?" he asked immediately as he surveyed the stargate and saw the security teams in their positions.
The gate activated and the iris closed immediately and Landry looked at the address.
"SG-1 sir," the NCO said calmly, relief in the young sergeant's voice, "Receiving IDC. Confirmed."
God I miss Walter, Landry thought sourly. His senior NCO back on Earth had remained there, his retirement coming up pretty soon and he was needed to train new personnel for the SGC's normal operational. So Landry and Terra Nova's main SGC were left to younger personnel.
"Open the iris."
The strong iris opened up and slid back into the reinforced wall that the gate was built into. Upon the opening of the iris Landry saw the form of several members of SG-1 come through, one of them came in right behind the others and rushed in. He could recognize her quickly, Brenda Jackson. She plowed through everyone and rushed in, which was a sign that she wanted to speak with him directly.
"Looks like she wants to debrief," Landry sighed as the civilian team leader rushed into the command center, "Yes Miss Jackson?"
"Briefing room sir. It's important," she gasped out, brushing some wet hair from her face. Her uniform was shiny with water from where they'd come from. Her face was also flushed somewhat from rush up the stairs.
At that moment O'Neill walked in as well, soaked to the bone. He wasn't at all flustered or as urgent as her, but there was a seriousness in his eyes that alluded to what she had on her mind.
"It is urgent sir," the man said with a nod.
"Let's go," Landry said, and quickly led the way into the briefing room that off the main command center, down small hall, and into a sealed door. They both walked in, and when the door shut Brenda instantly spoke up.
"Sir we met the Colonials," she said immediately.
"More like found each other. We had a bit of a spat sir, one of our personnel was suspicious and went on a quick scouting move," O'Neill explained, "She got caught and the Colonials explained they didn't know what to do so they went with what they felt was the safer bet for their own security and kept her with them."
"Not exactly a good start to your meeting was it?" Landry replied.
"No sir, then we caught half of their team a bit later and freed our own," O'Neill chuckled, "So we cut even I suppose."
"Then a group I was leading to the meeting at the palace on the planet was jumped by the rest of the Colonial team," Brenda then unwillingly shared, "Myself and Dr. Walt were caught. Our military escort managed to evade."
"They set you up?" Landry asked.
"No they'd heard we'd taken their team prisoner after a bit of a standoff that they blinked first on," O'Neill relayed, "well that's what they said anyway. Frankly I'm torn on whether I believe them or not."
"Because that's what you'd do Jack?" Landry asked with a smile.
"Pretty much, the impression I got was that they were trying very hard to avoid starting a war sir," O'Neill responded honestly, "The most they did as far as aggression was use something akin to a taser."
"And it had no effect from what Major Blanton told us," Brenda added, "So we had everything pretty much handled."
"And we…met something, or someone we didn't really expect," O'Neill worded, "You wanna give him the news?"
"Master Bra'tac intervened General. Kind of set up the meeting we had later. And it turned out pretty well overall."
"Except for you being a hostage?" O'Neill reminded her.
"I was fine!" Brenda snapped back, "Anyway, something else happened. As we wrapped up for a while someone else joined, a…" she trailed off, looking at Jack to be sure she wasn't dreaming, "A Furling sir."
"I'm sorry did you just say Furling?"
"One of the great races yes sir. He seemed to have been watching the Colonials, they'd met before and he was watching them operate. Apparently the Colonials have already met and established some sort of report with them."
"Fantastic, did you manage to ascertain if they'll come meet us?" Landry asked.
"He was pretty mum on that topic, his interest was with the Colonials. We can only tell you they're huge, like Bigfoot type size and look. And they're telepathic."
"Fantastic, just what we need, a great race taking sides it seems."
"They never treated me or Dr. Walt in an aggressive manner. They wanted to talk, and talk we did."
"About what?"
"About trying to normalize relations General," Brenda replied, "And there's a potential jackpot situation for doing just that right now. Kobol is under attack and they need help. Took some convincing but the Colonials admitted it."
"Here we go…" O'Neill grumbled, "Sir, she's wanting to take SG-1 to Kobol to assist their defense in the name of improving relations with the Colonials and safeguarding Ancient technology from falling into hostile hands."
"Kobol?" Landry asked for clarification, "I knew it. I knew that the decision to withdraw our listening and sensor patrols was the wrong decision. Damned IOA."
"We did that as a method of respecting their space to prevent conflict so they can settle down while we were still establishing Terra Nova as a colony. It was…a mistake I admit, but it did its job," Brenda replied.
"I'll take that up with Jack," Landry nodded, "For now, we have to decide whether or not we will actually send you and what you'll do if we send you."
"Stay out of combat sir. I recommend that we take a copy of Atlantis' operating system and activate their shields to keep Olympus safe and out of the wrong hands," O'Neill suggested, "And those hands is another piece of info they themselves didn't know."
"That's what I'd say as well General," Brenda nodded, "They've only just begun scratching the surface of what's out there. So they'll be in the dark about a lot of things for quite a while."
"They've more than likely got enough troops on the ground we won't have to put boots on the ground in numbers. But I'd like to have another SG team with us for security."
"I'll get SG-36 equipped immediately, they're new but have high combat scores."
"SG-36…Mexican unit?"
"Fresh from training and graduation back home. This'll be their first mission, if you guys go."
"So why aren't we for sure going? Seems simple enough, we're going to protect an Ancient City Ship from someone attacking the Colonials, who obviously want to hit the reset button with us," Brenda scoffed.
"Because I'm sending you to a combat zone without orbital support," Landry snapped, pointing a knowing finger at the young blonde, "We've seen this scenario played out too many times for too many bad endings."
"What kind of support are you thinking?"
"I'd like to have a carrier battle group, if not a Battle Carrier, the Colonials seem to have a healthy fear of them."
"And the Fleet has to approve the deployment of anything larger than a battleship," O'Neill grumbled, "I can't believe I'm saying this but I wish we were the small efficient unit we were back in the day."
"There's a reason for everything Colonel," Brenda reminded him, well aware of the inherent needs of bureaucracy.
"Sure there is."
"That's enough of that, if you'll excuse me, I've got a call to make," Landry interrupted the two of them. He stood up from the table he'd been leaning on and walked out with them behind him, "In the meantime, prepare for a new deployment to Kobol, choose the people you want to take, and get outfitted in the appropriate gear."
O'Neill saluted and keyed his radio, "Head back to the locker room, grab your temperate gear and exchanging out your weapons, not time for cleaning and inspecting."
"Roger that sir," Major Blanton responded.
The two of them branched off to a new hall as Landry parted ways with the two of them as he entered his office and picked up the phone and dialed up General O'Neill's phone, unsure of how this would be received. The phone rang once before the man he wanted to speak to picked up.
"O'Neill."
"Jack, Hank," Landry greeted him, "We've got a situation. SG-1 just got back early with an important bit of news."
"Did that civilian team get into trouble?"
"No such luck," Landry chuckled, "Worse, we've got another situation with the Colonials. No we didn't get nasty and things worked out in the end."
"So…what's the news?"
"They want to hit the reset button," Landry informed him, "But when they were about to relay the news to their command they got an emergency recall order. Kobol's under attack and they begrudgingly asked for help."
"Help? What kind of help?"
"They weren't specific or didn't know themselves, I'd assume they'll need some advising on what they're up against. But O'Neill and Jackson seemed to agree that the city ship needed to be protected, seeing as we neutered the city's operating systems the Colonials won't be able to activate the shields and guard it."
"Seems a bit of a risk for us to assume they can handle the situation. After all, they're not up to par tech-wise compared to what we know is out there."
"I've got the agreement of SG-1 to send them to protect the city with SG-36 as backup. But I'm not sending them without orbital support."
"So that's why you called me, you want permission to call in the fleet."
"That's right," Landry replied, "We've seen too many missions go south because of no air support."
"Alright, I'll activate the Shokaku Battle Group, they're next on the list on my 'Make sure all nations get action' list," General O'Neill responded, "Go ahead and deploy your teams Hank, time's not on our side."
"Roger that," Landry nodded, "Might pass the word to the ships to keep their distance until we've established that the Colonials know our forces are friendlies."
"I'll give the order," O'Neill immediately replied, knowing that the idea was for the best. Last thing they needed to do was have a three-way battle on accident, "And Hank I want you to have a QRF ready to deploy in the event things go south on that rock. I'm allowing you access the 1st IRB, they're not technically activated but our latest reviews have them at a state of readiness on par with traditional standards."
"They'll need to be on alert."
"They will. Get going General."
"Oh Jack, one last thing, SG-1 made contact with the Furlings," Landry informed him, saving the best for last, "I haven't gotten an opportunity to formally brief them but it looks like Bigfoot is a Furling and they have a keen interest in the Colonials."
"Are you sure about that?" O'Neill asked after a few moments.
"They seemed pretty sure, we'll get more information after the mission is accomplished."
"Very well, I'll have to keep my ears open now. Good luck Hank."
The phone went dead as General O'Neill hung up and Landry hung up himself and walked over to the central command center which his office was situated between, and went to the man in charge of the facility comms.
"Get SG/S-36 ready for deployment," Landry ordered, "Full temperate gear."
"Yes sir," the sergeant replied and pulled up the digital relay system that passed the word to SG-36's barracks and ready room before calling it out verbally, "SG/S-36, report to ready room for immediate deployment."
Back in SG-1's own ready room, the military contingent was getting their gear switched out, taking off their tropical green camouflage and putting on another set of armor and uniforms that had more in common with the US Army's Woodland ACU pattern. They were also exchanging their weapons with spares that they had readily available. The civilian portion of the team was also changing, but only select members of the team were being chosen.
Brenda knew that her biologist and geologist had no place in the coming mission, and told them to sit it out. This did not sit well with them, but they had no other choice. So she'd chosen her two tech experts, Doctors Underwood and Ellis, her two medical doctors, Lawson and Tew, and for the sake of negotiations and translation assistance she'd reluctantly chosen Dr. Walt.
These individuals were readying themselves in the other locker room until Major Blanton walked in fully geared up.
"Major?" Brenda asked, surprised at the sudden appearance.
"Colonel said to hand these out," Blanton replied, slinging a pair of metal cases onto the table in the middle of the locker room.
The boxes had locks on them, and Blanton unlocked it quickly and opened up the first case, revealing a line of P90 Personal Defense Weapons. These weapons were still as reliable and favored as any for the basic use by civilians and non-combat personnel in the event they would need them. Every single member of an SG Team needed to know how to use one of these weapons to even be allowed to go through the gate. They were only handed out for higher risk missions, at the decision of the team leaders and General Landry himself.
"This really necessary?" Brenda sighed, more as her own habit of wanting to have a say.
"Colonel's orders," Blanton said as he picked one up, pulling the action back and did a quick inspection before pulling the trigger to make sure the weapon was operating.
"Fine," Brenda grumbled, taking the P90 as Blanton opened the other case and counted out eight magazines and motioned for her to take them.
Unhappy but accepting the need to take the weapon she reached into her locker and grabbed a thigh-mounted dual magazine pouch that she clipped around her left thigh and placed two of the magazines in there and four more in her vest and took the two spares and placed them in her backpack. She didn't like having to carry the P90, giving the impression she was ready and looking for a fight. That was not what she wanted to do, her objective was to be a diplomat, meeting and negotiating a diplomatic relationship with whoever they met through the Stargate.
Blanton continued, passing out the other P90's and ammunition. Once he was done he closed the boxes and announced to them.
"When you're geared up draw yourselves some new pistols and extra forty-five caliber magazines," Blanton instructed firmly, "This is not an exploration mission this is a now a combat we're going into. If things go well you won't have to use those. But be ready to use them either way."
"Got it," Ruby rolled her eyes, pulling on her Cal Tech bucket hat once she'd clipped her P90 into place.
"No…" Blanton corrected, tapping her head, "Helmet."
"So…if we do get into a fight, you gonna tell us some quick fight moves?" Dr. Underwood asked, "Y'know some…" he trailed and assumed a karate fighting stance.
Blanton pulled out an unloaded P90 and had it aimed at Underwood who yelped in surprise and drew back.
"Yeah, shoot them," the big man growled, tossing the weapon into Underwood's arms and addressed all of the civilians present, "This ain't a movie, it's not a book. This is real, the Colonials may be behind us technologically but they are every bit as deadly with their hands and knives as any of us. Do not screw around with that Karate Kid bullshit! If someone comes at you with sinister intent, Colonial or otherwise, you take your weapon, aim it at them, and pull the trigger before they do the same. We'll do our best to protect you, but the time may come when you may have to kill someone, settle that fact with yourselves now. There won't be a moment to do that in a fight."
It was blunt, but it was a reality check that they all needed to have thrown in their faces. The best motivator was fear in such situations, fear keeps someone sharp, heightens their awareness, and keeps them alive. Instilling that fear was just what was needed before going into very real danger. There was no way the deadly seriousness of the situation could be explained. With that done Blanton walked out to where O'Neill was standing against the wall. He nodded to his commanding officer who nodded in return now that their message was delivered.
"Instruct the team to grab a quick bite from the MRE's we've got in the go-box in the lounge, SG-36 is on its way. Fill them in when they get here," O'Neill ordered.
"Yes sir," Blanton saluted, getting another in return from O'Neill who entered the locker room after Blanton left.
There he saw the civilian team just about ready, with everyone checking their equipment and tightening and rechecking their uniforms and backpacks for anything that they might have missed. He saw Brenda speaking with Dr. Lawson and Dr. Tew, who filed out of the room to their lab to get their medical bags after O'Neill entered, giving quick greetings to him. Brenda then went and was about to give out another set of instructions to Dr. Underwood and Dr. Ellis.
"Jackson," Jack called out, motioning for her to come over to him before she could finish what she said.
"Just make sure you have at least two separate copies of the operating systems for the city," she finished in a condensed form as she walked over, "Another lecture on how I might have to gouge out an opponent's eyes or something like that?"
As she and O'Neill started talking the other civilians filed out to grab the rest of their gear and download whatever data they needed for their datapads tucked in a protected cubby on the back of their armor between the plate and their backpacks.
O'Neill smirked slightly, "No, not this time. Just making sure that you understand the way things will work once we get to Kobol as far as what you can say and do. I'm in charge, plain and simple. What I say goes, if something happens to me it's SG-36's commander, then Blanton, so on and so on."
"I get it," Brenda groaned, rolling her eyes, "Don't go anywhere without permission, don't do anything without permission."
"Listen, I know you don't like me Jackson, I know that the idea of the military being the overall authority of Stargate Command does not appeal to you. But you need to get one thing straight today," O'Neill whispered, not wanting the others to hear, "You have to listen to us out there. I cannot emphasize that enough. It might not be as nice or polite as you're used to back in D.C. or with the respect you feel you are afforded. But you have to do it immediately and without question."
"Sounds like we've had this conversation before," Brenda smirked crossing her arms over her chest.
O'Neill growled and grabbed her by her vest and slammed her against the locker six inches behind her, catching Brenda entirely off-guard.
"This is no longer an academic exercise Brenda! There's no innocent little scientific objectives where we're going now. The people on the other side of that gate, whoever they are, will kill you," Jack snapped, practically nose-to-nose. He could see the surprise and fear in her eyes, despite her best efforts to repress it and could hear her breathing fast in response, "I know. I've seen what's out there and I need to know that you understand that."
Brenda nodded quickly, more in reflex than actually knowing and with that Jack let go and she regained some measure of composure and brushed her some hair from her face.
"I need to hear you say it, that you'll do what you're told out there."
"I'll…follow orders," Brenda stuttered, unsure of how to word it.
"And you'll do them when?"
"Immediately," she shook her head, put back by the sudden deadly seriousness that O'Neill was exhibiting.
"Alright, grab an MRE, get some food in you, it might be a while before we get another chance to."
EDFS Challenger, on Patrol near Lucia
"Sir, coming out of hyperspace," Ellis's navigator called out.
"Very well, get scanners online, let's take a quick peak and see what the Lucians are up to," the man ordered, perfectly content with the standard patrol.
Earth hadn't been worrying too much about the Lucians lately, the Jaffa had been keeping them from causing trouble, ridding the trade lanes of Lucian-backed pirates and kassa fields across their sphere. This limited and defanged the Lucians after the disaster they'd met at the hands of Earth's first Battle Carrier, the Enterprise and forced them into a completely docile state that they feared leaving, else feel the wrath of Earth's fleet.
So with the assurance of the Jaffa and the incessant need to keep the bulk of Earth's experienced fleet close to home during the Terra Nova colonization and training of new ship crews the Lucians had been allowed to fester in their own home planet. But with Challenger's proximity to the planet it had been decided to take a peak real fast.
As the ship came out of hyperspace along with its large battle group the scanners began picking up something that startled the crew on the sensors. Ships and wreckage numbering in the thousands.
"Sir, you may want to take a look at this," the officer overseeing the scans called out.
"What do we got?" Ellis asked, leaning down to take a look, and saw the blobs of ships around the planet, some of what he was seeing not truly registering, "The hell?"
"My thoughts exactly sir, none of these ships match our records, some are enormous, eighteen kilometers on at least five of them," his sensor chief agreed.
"And thousands of others and a huge debris field getting trimmed down pretty rapidly. Remnants from a battle sir? I didn't think the Lucians had that many ships," another senior NCO piped up.
"They don't. Or, didn't."
"Whoever these guys are they seem to have set up shop, best leave them be for now sir, at least until we can gain more intel on them," the NCO nodded.
"Wanna call this in boss?"
"That's what I plan on doing, get me headquarters," Ellis ordered, and looked back at the astounding scale of the fleet over Lucia, "We take our eyes off you guys for a little bit and look what happens."
EDF Fleet Massing Point, Terra Nova
The Defense Force task force of a single Halsey Class Carrier, the Shokaku, was prepared to depart. In its mass of ships were two BB-305's, the Kongo and Hiei, with six BC-304's escorting the force. This was an all-Japanese fleet, the only one in the EDF that was active. It was a fully capable task force, with enough firepower for it handle itself from any threat that could be thrown against it by what Earth knew was potentially waiting out there.
Once the fleet was in formation it broke away from its position alongside the titanic shadows of the Earth Battle Carriers orbiting in column formation with battleships, carriers, battlecruisers, and destroyers massed in similar line formations around them. They formed large grids of warships of similar classes. Formations of Banshees patrolled the quiet of space around them, keeping sharp eyes on anything suspicious that would dare venture near the deadly assembly over Terra Nova.
After clearing the area, the Shokaku led her fleet into hyperspace, jumping away to take up position near the planet Kobol, well aware they were on their way to a fight.
And so I've decided, Earth shall fight. Let's see what happens next shall we?
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Next Chapter Preview: Earth returns to Kobol, and so does an Adama.